Bill seeks early school start date, uniformity

Worried the late Labor Day this year won’t leave enough time for school districts to finish their Fall curriculum, Florida lawmakers seek to tweak a law so schools can get an early jump on the school year.

School districts can open no later than 14 days before Labor Day, but this year, the holiday falls on the latest date possible, Sept. 7, meaning schools wouldn’t be legally able to begin class until Aug. 24.

“This would mean that the first semester would not end before the winter break” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee. “Students would be taking their final exams and end-of-course exams after the winter break. We would prefer students to finish their first semester, and all assessments related to the first semester, before winter break.”